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A report by research network Afrobarometer has revealed that 64℅ of Ghanaians want the government to name, shame and prosecute officials who have misappropriated state funds.

The 2,400 respondents were emphatic they want government to retrieve monies wrongfully taken from the state kitty.
About 22% favour government’s retrieval of stolen funds without prosecution while 9% would opt for prosecution without retrieval of stolen funds.

The study spanned seven days and was conducted to test public perception about government policies.
The report, released yesterday, said there is a growing trend where incumbent governments threaten to prosecute past officials while ignoring corrupt practices of its appointees.

The recent bribery claim levelled by pro-NPP musician A-Plus against the two Deputy Chiefs of Staff was listed as one of the corruption-related allegations that have surfaced this year.

There is also the perception that some “informal leaders, public and private sector officials” are also corrupt.
But the perception is worse for public officials, the Afrobarometer study has said.

The Round 7 report, launched by the Center for Democratic Development (CDD), said “most Ghanaians perceive some informal leaders, public and private sector officials as corrupt. The perception is worse for officials in the public sector,” the report said.

“Most Ghanaians think that governments over the years have been very swift in prosecuting and punishing corrupt officials belonging to opposition parties. Nevertheless, majority believe the current government performed well in fighting corruption,” it said.

The Afrobarometer was conducted to find out on what Ghanaian citizens thought about the fight against illegal mining, mob justice, political party vigilantism and corruption in the country. 

Moreover, on corruption, 59% Ghanaians said most or all police officials are corrupt; 38%, judges and magistrates; 35%, national government officials; and 32% for Members of Parliament. 

On illegal mining, the survey, presented by Daniel Armah-Attoh, revealed that Ghanaians disapproved of galamsey and endorsed alternative livelihood support by the government. 

It came out that 74% of Ghanaians said no citizen should be permitted to engage in illegal small-scale mining or ‘galamsey’ for any reason. 

Eight out of the 10 Ghanaians approve of the government’s performance in clamping down on illegal small-scale mining.
Opposition to small-scale mining was weakest in the Upper East, Northern and Upper West regions.
Also, 80% approve of the idea that the government should be responsible for providing alternative livelihoods for former ‘galamseyers’.

However, both rejection of ‘galamsey’ and approval of government performance are somewhat stronger among urban residents than their rural counterparts. 

In conclusion, Ghanaians strongly support the government’s effort to eliminate illegal small-scale mining, according to the Afrobarometer.

On the findings on party vigilantism and mob ‘justice’ in media during the survey, it indicated that most Ghanaians believe it is wrong and punishable for party vigilantes to attack government appointees whose appointments they disagree with, as well as destroy state properties.

Most citizens approved of government prosecuting and punishing political party vigilantes without favour. In addition, majority of Ghanaians believe only the police should deal with suspected criminals.

Former Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Justice Emile Short stated that the increase in the levels of corruption from 2002 till date in our state institutions is due to the weak institutions which are supposed to fight corruption. According to Short, Ghanaians don’t take corruption serious, and the way multi-party system in Ghana is practiced promotes corruption. 

He said there should be a radical action from the government to fight corruption in the state institutions, as well as massive sensitisation of the public in fighting corruption.